as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
the infantile humor that teenage boys are justly famous for
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of infantile
Though her infantile husband and his family treat Anora as a disposable plaything, Madison gives her a thrilling pugnacity — while at the same time locating the pathos of her emotionally bruising ordeal.
—
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
When people are being killed and cities and essential civilian infrastructure are being razed, disavowing responsibility is both infantile and amoral.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2023
As people mature, they’re supposed to leave such infantile behavior behind them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2024
Anchorman trades the ratings-battle storyline of similar films for a battle of the sexes, pitting an infantile boys’ club against a new hire navigating their sexism with the seasoned poise of someone who’s done this all before.
—Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for infantile
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
When people are being killed and cities and essential civilian infrastructure are being razed, disavowing responsibility is both infantile and amoral.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2023
As people mature, they’re supposed to leave such infantile behavior behind them.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2024
Anchorman trades the ratings-battle storyline of similar films for a battle of the sexes, pitting an infantile boys’ club against a new hire navigating their sexism with the seasoned poise of someone who’s done this all before.
—Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for infantile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infantile
Adjective
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My hair is still thin, childish and deserving of the gentle wash that baby shampoo affords.—
John Hodgman,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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The pair settle right away into the half-affectionate, half-annoyed, goofy childish dynamic recognizable to adult siblings everywhere — to the amusement and occasional irritation of Frank, a locally beloved good old boy who’s only the teeny-tiniest bit prone to vanity and corruption.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Yet there’s nothing inherently immature about her voice.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
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This reflects the struggle many women face with emotionally immature and irresponsible partners.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Global, regional, and national prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity, 1990–2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
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In this Jersey club and trap fusion, the 13-year-old tenderly sings about the thrill of an adolescent love.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Related Articles Broken bones, excessive force and drug overdoses: Inside Colorado’s juvenile detention facilities Colorado Democrats are ready to pass a sweeping gun control bill.—
Seth Klamann,
The Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2025
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Andrew — a former graduate student, whose name has been changed to protect him from harassment — left his position at a major US primate research center in 2022, after spending two years studying infectious diseases in juvenile monkeys.—
Celia Ford,
Vox,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infantile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infantile. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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